Forbes Daily: Alphabet's Hot Start To 2025 Despite Uncertainty

Forbes

25-04-2025

The rise of AI has also driven a surge in its use for nefarious purposes. But Atlanta-based startup Pindrop just hit a new milestone helping fight the increase in fraud that the technology has brought.
After more than 10 years in business, the firm surpassed $100 million in annual recurring revenue, and such growth is driven by its efforts to fight deepfakes—digitally created hoax recordings, images or videos. CEO Vijay Balasubramaniyan said the company has seen a 111% increase in deepfake-related fraud attempts since 2022.
The company even had a moment in the spotlight last year: It identified a fraudulent robocall impersonating former President Joe Biden's voice that was used in New Hampshire to discourage Democrats from voting.
Illustration by Cecilia Runxi Zhang for Forbes; Photos by Getty Images: LAW Ho Ming; Michael A. McCoy/Stringer
Tesla's stock surged despite the company posting some of its worst quarterly results in years this week, as Elon Musk said he would step back from his DOGE duties. But even if Musk becomes a more active CEO again, the problems the EV maker faces—like declining profit margins, intensifying competition and a tarnished brand image—aren't going away anytime soon. Worse, it's becoming clear Musk has run out of ideas for how to fix them, writes Forbes senior editor Alan Ohnsman.
Just one hour after Forbes released an investigation into metaverse company Infinite Reality, which had previously announced a massive $3 billion fundraise from a single anonymous investor, the company revealed the investor's identity. The company said the investment was 'represented by' Sterling Select, a venture firm affiliated with Sterling Equities, whose cofounders are former principal owners of the New York Mets and prominent figures in the New York real estate industry—and known for their ties to Bernie Madoff. Sterling Equities' general counsel denied any involvement with the funding round.
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The Chinese government may exempt some goods from its 125% tariff rate on all U.S. imports over reported concerns about the economic impact of the steep levies—imposed in response to Washington's 'reciprocal' tariffs. It would follow a similar carve out made by the Trump Administration earlier this month for certain items like Chinese-made smartphones and laptops.
In a sign of the shifting cultural tides, 39% of companies said they would scale back on engagement for LGBTQ Pride Month this June, a survey from Gravity Research found. The executives surveyed from top companies cited conservative activists and President Donald Trump, who has waged a war on DEI and targeted the transgender community.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai
Google parent company Alphabet topped earnings expectations as it was the first of the trillion-dollar U.S. technology giants to report results from an uncertain first quarter. Google stock jumped about 4% in after-hours trading immediately following the release, and Amazon, Apple, Meta and Microsoft are expected to report their earnings next week.
The White House is reportedly considering a number of proposals to incentivize Americans to have children amid declining birth rates in the U.S., including a potential $5,000 'baby bonus.' When asked about the proposal, President Donald Trump called the bonus a 'good idea,' though it would need to be approved by Congress.
After President Donald Trump suggested it on Truth Social, the Trump Organization fired its ethics attorney, whom Harvard University hired to help with its lawsuit against the federal government. The Trump Organization began working with attorney William Burck in January to help prevent conflicts of interest between the company and Trump's presidency, but the move to fire him raises questions about Trump's independence from his business empire.
ILLUSTRATION BY FORBES; IMAGES BY GOOGLE GEMINI AI
Talk to any financial advisor these days, and he or she is likely to have a strong opinion about something known as 'structured notes.'
These complex products are sold as the 'have your cake and eat it' investments of the wealth management world. Their specialty is flexibility—some are geared toward growth and others toward income. Returns are capped and in all cases the goal is to limit downside risk. They are manufactured by big banks like JPMorgan using derivatives, and are often sold as 'stock market-linked' with 'sleep well at night' protection. They come with maturities ranging from six months to five years, provide principal protection and sometimes offer annual yields of 10% or more.
Up until the last few years, structured notes were mostly the domain of hedge funds and other sophisticated investors or ultra-wealthy clients. But thanks to clever engineering, the notes are now being offered by scores of brokers and sold in bite-sized $1,000 increments.
The current market volatility and uncertainty has caused them to surge in popularity. Last year the broker-sold U.S. structured notes market reached a record high of nearly $150 billion, up 46% from the previous year, according to London's Deriva Intelligence. JPMorgan was the top issuer in 2024, followed closely by the likes of Citi, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and Barclays.
WHY IT MATTERS "The surge in downside protection securities signals a proactive approach by both advisors and investors in response to today's market uncertainty,' says Forbes staff writer Sergei Klebnikov. 'As these complex products which seek to limit losses become increasingly accessible, it's imperative that investors understand the nuances of different costs and risks involved."
MORE The Best Ways To Profit From, And Safeguard Against, Market Volatility
Ultra-low price retailers Shein and Temu said they would raise prices Friday in response to President Donald Trump's hefty China tariffs. Neither firm said which products would see increases or by how much:
145%: The current tariff rate on goods from China, though Trump has said such rates would 'come down substantially'
$38 billion: The amount in total sales Shein reported in 2024, up 19% from the previous year
$2: The price of a pair of Shein earrings promoted in a video from a TikTok user that highlighted deals to take advantage of
Although it might feel intimidating, it's important to ask your boss questions that can help fast-track your career. One key question that will help show you're willing to go above and beyond is: 'What problems are you working on that I can help with?' And don't just say that you want a promotion—ask for their input on how you can get there.
A second U.S. legacy airline pulled its 2025 fiscal guidance Thursday, citing economic uncertainty. Which carrier is it?
A. Delta
B. United
C. American
D. Alaska
Check your answer.
Thanks for reading! This edition of Forbes Daily was edited by Sarah Whitmire and Chris Dobstaff.